By: Brayden Fengler / November 20, 2024 The Canucks have had to deal with a truly staggering amount of notable personnel curveballs already this season. Of the the names featured in this article, virtually all of them were vital to the fabric of what made this team successful last year, and will no doubt be vital to what gives this team legs during the rest of this campaign as well.
Reviewing the big picture of what this team has been dealing with to start this season, it is truly A LOT. Between the many unique situations that Canucks players have had to work through and are still working through, they range from the sobering realities of professional hockey, all the way to the equally sobering realities of being a human.
But ultimately there is a surprisingly positive light that can be cast on how well Vancouver has been doing this year, in spite of these many challenges.
Still No Demko
Demko has been skating with the team again for some time, so his eventual presence in the Canucks net feels closer than it has in weeks. But still, we are coming up on almost two months of NHL action where the Canucks’ starting netminder has been missing in action.
Demko played his last game for the Canucks during last year’s playoff run. While things seemed hopeful in the summer that he would be good to go by the time the puck dropped on the new season, that turned out not to be the case.
Demko’s injury was rare for hockey players. It was to his popliteus muscle, a stabilizing muscle around the knee. The rehab for this injury ended up needing more time than the initial speculation indicated.
Artus Silovs struggled out of the gate attempting to fill Demko’s shoes, but thankfully the Canucks found a temporary solution in Kevin Lankinen. While Lankinen has been a welcomed positive surprise for the Canucks, there’s no doubt that Demko’s absence has been an ongoing liability for the team.
Joshua’s Cancer Situation
The other Canuck that also didn’t get a chance to suit up this season, until recently anyways, was Dakota Joshua. Before this season began Joshua announced via a statement through the team that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer over the summer and his recovery would delay his ability to start playing NHL games again.
Joshua said in his statement at the time.
“Unfortunately, I will not be ready for the start of training camp as I continue to heal from surgery. I plan on returning to play as soon as possible this season and I am working hard every day (to) rejoin my teammates.” – Dakota Joshua
This news was no doubt a surprise to the Canucks and of course to Dakota Joshua. News like this is an all too real reminder that as superhuman as NHL players seem to be, they are not immune to the very real and serious human problems that can immediately have to take priority over the game we all love.
Joshua has now played just four games this season, earning his first point in yesterday’s contest against the Rangers. To start Joshua has played down the line-up with light deployment as head coach Rick Tocchet eases last year’s third-line powerhouse back into action.
Thankfully for the Canucks, the main line mate that Joshua produced with last year, Conor Garland, had been having himself a strong start to the season even without Joshua’s presence.
Brock Boeser Out After a Cheapshot
Like Demko, Boeser did not play in every Canucks playoff game last season. Boeser had to miss game seven against the Edmonton Oilers due to a blood clot issue that became too serious to ignore.
Boser was confident in post-season media availabilities that this issue would not impact his ability to train over the summer and that did appear to be the case, as he was able to start the season.
Up until just under two weeks ago Boeser had played in every game for the Canucks earning 11 points in those 12 games played, and was as always, a vital part of the team’s production.
However, in Boeser’s last game played, he was met with a high hit from L.A. King’s Tanner Jeannot and has missed five games since this incident.
Thankfully, since this game against the Kings, Elias Pettersson has seen significantly improved production, which has been a welcomed uptick for his game, especially in Boesr’s absence.
Derek Forbort’s Knee Issue
Speaking of Elias Petterson, the Canucks’ younger and more defensively inclined Pettersson was recently recalled in tandem with the news that Derek Forbort would be placed on IR.
Forbot has played just four games for the Canucks so far this season, sitting out the last number of contents due to his injury.
The timeline for Forbot’s return is unknown as his current absence was stated to be “indefinite”. Of all the absences Forbot’s should be the most manageable for the Canucks, as his role as a depth defenseman can be worked around more easily than your Boeser’s or Demko’s. However, when a team is getting hit hard with absences up the line-up, it does become scarier when depth pieces start to go down as well.
J.T. Miller’s Personal Leave
It was announced ahead of the morning skate on Tuesday that J.T. Miller would be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team. No specific reason was given by the Canucks, who put out a statement in support of Miller.
The only reasonable assumption that can be drawn from a situation like this, is that this is likely not a physical injury. There were no signs of anything of the sort over recent games, and so perhaps thankfully for the Canucks and Miller his timeline for return will not be restricted by a physical rehabilitation hurtle.
However, beyond that one assumption, which is again, still just an assumption, there is no more to say on the reasoning behind Miller’s stepping away. Reading between the lines, this is a deeply personal situation and should be treated as such. Like so many items on this list, this news serves as another reminder that hockey players are in fact human too.
If Miller is dealing with something that has no timeline for return, then all fans and the team can do is be ready for him to re-enter the fold when he is ready.
Conor Garland Baby Watch
Again hockey players are human, and one of life’s great joys, and a major part of the human experience is growing a family. Garland and his wife are expecting their first child, at literally any moment.
There is a not zero percent chance that between the time it takes this article to be written and published, Garland will be a father. (as of Wednesday morning it appears baby watch is still ongoing). While Garland played in Tuesday’s game against the Rangers, he was prepared to make a break for the closest Rogers Arena exit at a moment’s notice.
If not last night, Garland may soon have to take a moment away from the Canucks to be with his wife for the birth of their child. Again it’s reasons like this, that are why any of us are even here at all.
Through it All
The Canucks and their players have already been through a seasons worth of ups and downs, injuries and absences and it’s not even December. Through this all the Canucks are at 9-6-3. A record that when all the factors listed above are considered, is quite impressive.
Key producers have been missing, their starting goalie hasn’t laced up for an NHL game yet this season, and still the Canucks are playing above .500 hockey. If this is as bad as the Canucks are going to get this season, Canucks fans and their players should have a lot to look forward to in 2025.